Blood soaks the earth beneath my feet, a thick, metallic scent clogging the air. The sky overhead is a swirling chaos of dark clouds and crimson streaks—an unnatural storm raging over the battlefield. Screams pierce through the cacophony of clashing steel and searing magic. I tighten my grip around my bow, its silver inlays glowing faintly as I weave another arrow of condensed magical energy.

  Why am I here?

  It’s been ten years. Ten years since I arrived in Mysteria. Ten years since I last set foot on Earth. And yet, I still have no answer. No way home.

  A blast of energy rips past me, throwing dust and debris into the air. I raise a barrier just in time, the shimmering veil of bluish-silver light absorbs the impact. A guttural roar echoes through the battlefield—another beast falls, its monstrous form collapsing into the mud. My friends fight on, pushing forward. I do the same, my magic flowing instinctively now, my body moving as though this has always been my life.

  But it hasn’t.

  I remember who I used to be. I remember my last night on Earth.

  It was almost seven o'clock on a Friday night when I arrived home, exhaustion settling deep into my bones. The office had been suffocating as usual, another dreary day spent in front of a screen, answering emails that barely mattered. My place was quiet, save for the familiar soft thuds of tiny paws against the wooden floor. Three gray tabby cats approached me, their tails flicking lazily.

  I managed a tired smile.

  “At least you guys are still here,” I muttered, crouching down to scratch behind their ears. “You’re the only reason I haven’t lost my mind yet.”

  Lumine, the only girl of the three, purred in response, a comfort in an otherwise dull existence.

  Gizmo, the oldest of three (he just turned ten this year), was screaming at me, demanding food. Cosmo, Lumine's brother from the same litter, meowed at me softly, brushing his face against my legs. That's his own way asking for food.

  I took my phone out and opened the app that controls their feeder. I tapped Dispense, and surely, their feeder let out a handful of kibbles. The three of them ran across the room at the sound of the kibbles falling onto their metal bowls.

  I considered taking a shower, but the thought of standing under running water felt like too much effort. Instead, I threw myself onto my bed, barely bothering to remove my tie. The sheets smelled faintly of detergent and something uniquely mine—familiar, grounding. Sleep pulled at my consciousness, and I let it take me.

  And then—

  A soft hum. A glow of bluish-white light.

  I opened my eyes, but I wasn’t in my bed anymore.

  Cold. The ground beneath me was solid, unyielding. Concrete? No—stone. I pushed myself up, my fingers brushing against smooth, ancient carvings. A vast emptiness stretched around me, punctuated only by the glow of floating symbols and the eerie melody that filled the space.

  I followed the sound, the light growing brighter with each hesitant step. And then, standing before me, was a figure unlike any I had ever seen.

  He was tall, his frame both lean and powerful. Long hair, the color of the sky at dusk, cascaded down his back. Great feathered wings extended from his shoulders, a shimmering mix of silver and blue. His eyes, piercing yet unreadable, met mine.

  “Welcome,” he said, his voice smooth, resonant.

  “Where am I?” I asked, mostly annoyed than confused.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “You are in Mysteria.” He smiled.

  “Excuse me? Mister what now?” I replied. I stared at him, my mind sluggish, still clinging to the notion that this was a dream.

  He inclined his head slightly. “I am Yashka,” he said. “I understand this might be very confusing for you, but I am here to offer you insight and answers.”

  I hesitated before answering. “…Right.”

  “Czak Alastar,” he murmured, as if confirming something. “You have been chosen.”

  “First of all, chosen for what?” I asked, my voice dull with annoyance. “Second of all, how did you know my name?”

  He let out a soft amused chuckle. “Chosen to protect this world,” he said, “and I know your name because the Gem that chose you told me.”

  “The what chose me now?” I frowned.

  “You, along with nine others, have been chosen by the Gems. They—”

  “The gems?” I echoed. “The gems? How could a gem choose?”

  He smiled, as if this question had been asked and was expected. “The Gems are semi-sentient beings,” he began. “Think of them as artificial intelligence, so to speak in your world. These Gems are the vessels of every magic that has ever been and will ever be in Mysteria. They hold the greatest power known in existence.

  “Every form of magic flows from these gems: the Gem of Heavens, Gem of Fire, Gem of Supremacy, Gem of Earth, Gem of Changes, Gem of Waters, Gem of Creations, Gem of Life, Gem of Senses, and Gem of Reflections. These gems recognized your potential, your aptitude for magic.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Magic? I’ve never cast a spell in my life.”

  Yashka tilted his head slightly. “Everyone from your world has the potential for magic. But Earth is devoid of magical energy. Mysteria, however, is filled with it. Here, your potential can be realized. I can help you weave spells, cast incantations, invoke hexes, engrave runes, conjure illusions, summon energies, harness mana, wield sorcery, and manifest phantasms.”

  I smirked. “That’s a tempting offer, but I still do not see what it has to do with me.”

  Yashka’s wings shifted slightly as he took a measured step forward. “Mysteria is under threat. Invaders from another realm seek to consume its magic, to drain it until nothing remains.”

  I let out a slow breath, crossing my arms. “That’s rough. But, again, what’s that got to do with me?”

  Yashka’s gaze darkened, his expression grave. “If Mysteria falls, the balance of the universe will be disrupted. Simply put, all worlds will fall—including Earth.”

  “That sounds a little dramatic.” I wrinkled my nose. “Why?”

  “Mysteria is the core of all magical energy,” Yashka explained. “It maintains the balance of existence, ensuring that worlds remain separate and do not collapse into each other. If it is destroyed, that balance will shatter. Every world, yours included, will cease to exist.”

  I swallowed hard. “…So, saving Mysteria means saving Earth.”

  Yashka nodded. “Yes.”

  I let out a dry laugh, running a hand through my hair. “Well, shit. I wasn’t exactly having the time of my life back home anyway.”

  Yashka’s expression softened slightly. “I understand this is difficult to process.”

  I sighed, shaking my head. “No, you don’t. But that’s fine. Let’s say I believe you. What’s next?”

  “You must accept the power bestowed upon you,” Yashka said. “The Gem of the Heavens has chosen you, but you have to accept it. To give the Gem consent to be its new vessel.”

  “And what is the Gem of the Heavens, exactly?” I asked, trying not to sound so skeptical.

  Yashka gestured towards the humming light. “It is the source of all sky, wind, and celestial magic.”

  I let the words sink in. A part of me still thought this was a dream. But another part—the part that had long since grown numb to the monotony of my old life—was whispering, urging me forward.

  “…Fuck it,” I muttered. “What am I going to lose anyway?”

  Yashka offered a small, knowing smile. “Then it is decided.”

  He lifted a hand, and a soft, celestial light surrounded me. “You were chosen by the Gem of the Heavens,” he repeated. “And now, your journey begins.”

  I barely heard the rest of his explanation—about dominion over the heavens, about the nature of the Gems. I was still stuck on the absurdity of it all.

  When he led me toward the exit of what he called the “Plane of Consciousness,” I followed without question. What else was I supposed to do?

  And then, in the blink of an eye, I was somewhere else.

  A temple. A massive chamber, its walls lined with intricate murals of swirling skies and starry expanses. Standing within it were others—nine humans, three elves, two . . . talking bears?

  And then—

  “Star?”

  A voice, familiar and raw with relief. My head snapped toward the source.

  My breath caught in my throat.

  I knew that voice.

  I was not alone in this world.